Oak Ridge principals reassigned after one requests transfer

Friday

Oct 11, 2013 at 5:39 PM

Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers on Wednesday announced the reassignment of principals at both Jefferson and Robertsville middle schools, following the voluntary transfer of the new Robertsville principal.

Donna Smith/The Oak Ridger

Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers on Wednesday announced the reassignment of principals at both Jefferson and Robertsville middle schools, following the voluntary transfer of the new Robertsville principal.

The change in positions goes into effect today.

James Hundertmark took on the role of Robertsville Middle School principal on July 1, according to information on the school’s website.

“He’ll be assigned to a position of special projects, an adminstrator at SAB (School Administration Building),” Borchers said in a telephone interview. “He requested a change due to circumstances outside of his control.”

Borchers said Hundertmark’s position is new and that he’ll keep the same salary as he held as middle school principal — $95,000 a year.

The issue being a personnel matter, Borchers said he could not comment further on the reason for Hundertmark’s request for transfer.

Robertsville Middle’s new principal is Bruce Lay, who has been principal at Jefferson Middle School since 2001, according to information from the school system. Lay served as Jefferson’s assistant principal for one year prior to his appointment as principal.

Before joining the Oak Ridge schools, Lay worked for the Anderson County school system, where he had worked as principal of Briceville Elementary and Norwood Middle schools.

Jefferson’s interim principal is Phillip Cox, who has worked as the school’s vice principal since 2006. He, too, previously worked for the Anderson County schools, having served as principal at Lake City Elementary School before joining the Oak Ridge schools.

“This realignment of administrators will enable Oak Ridge schools’ staff to continue to meet the learning needs of all of our students,” Borchers stated in a news release issued Wednesday afternoon. “I look forward to this transition and working with administrative and teacher leaders as we provide our students and parents with excellent schools that are focused on preparing all students for college and career success.

“Both Mr. Lay and Mr. Cox have excellent leadership skills and have demonstrated a strong commitment to Oak Ridge schools,” he continued in the news release. “I also wish Mr. Hundertmark success during this transition.”

Lay’s resume includes a bachelor’s degree from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky., a master’s degree from Tusculum College and an education specialist degree from Tennessee Tech.

Cox holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Vanderbilt University.

Hundertmark worked as an associate principal at Klein High School in Klein, Texas, last year. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Lincoln Memorial University and a master’s from the University of Florida. He taught math in both Anderson County and Texas before becoming an administrator, according to the Robertsville Middle School website.